Bowling shoes and improved heel construction therefor

Abstract

A bowling shoe to be worn on the sliding foot of a bowler has a heel that presents outer and inner bottom surfaces, the outer bottom surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction as compared to the inner surface. The outer surface can be white rubber and the inner surface can be leather. Preferably the heel is U-shaped for improved stability. A shoe for the non-sliding foot has a sole with a higher coefficient of friction and a uniform heel surface.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pair of bowling shoes comprising: a first shoe to be worn on a bowler's non-sliding foot having a relatively high friction sole; and   a second shoe to be worn on said bowler's sliding foot having a relatively low friction sole as compared to said first shoe, said second shoe having a heel that presents an outer bottom surface on the side thereof farthest from said non-sliding foot when so worn and an inner bottom surface on the side thereof nearest form said non-sliding foot when so worn, said outer bottom surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction as compared to said inner bottom surface, whereby said heel tends to center said second shoe with respect to the center of gravity of said bowler and align said second shoe with respect to the forward motion of said bowler, leading to a more square body position as a ball is thrown.   
     
     
       2. The shoes of claim 1 wherein said outer bottom surface is rubber. 
     
     
       3. The shoes of claim 1 wherein said inner bottom surface is leather. 
     
     
       4. The shoes of claim 1 wherein: said outer bottom surface is white rubber; and   said inner bottom surface is leather.   
     
     
       5. The shoes of claim 1 wherein said heel of said second shoe defines a recess at the center thereof. 
     
     
       6. The shoes of claim 1 wherein at least part of said heel of said second shoe is U-shaped, defining a recess at the center thereof opening toward said sole of said second shoe. 
     
     
       7. The shoes of claim 6 wherein said outer bottom surface is white rubber. 
     
     
       8. The shoes of claim 6 wherein said inner bottom surface is leather. 
     
     
       9. The shoes of claim 6 wherein: said outer bottom surface is white rubber; and   said inner bottom surface is leather.   
     
     
       10. The shoes of claim 1 wherein said first shoe has a heel with a substantially uniform bottom surface. 
     
     
       11. A pair of bowling shoes comprising: a first shoe to be worn on a bowler's non-sliding foot having a relatively high friction sole, said first shoe having a heel with a substantially uniform bottom surface; and   a second shoe to be worn on said bowler's sliding foot having a lower friction sole as compared to said first shoe, said second shoe having a heel that is at least partially U-shaped and defines a recess opening toward the sole thereof, said heel presenting an outer bottom surface of white rubber on the side thereof farthest from said non-sliding foot when so worn and an inner bottom surface of leather on the side thereof nearest said non-sliding foot when so worn, whereby said heel tends to center said second shoe with respect to the center of gravity of said bowler and align said second shoe with respect to the forward motion of said bowler, leading to a more square body position as a ball is thrown.